The Second Generation by David Graham Phillips, Fiction, Classics, Literary

& 34;Is it serious? Will I die?& 34; --& 34;In this world everything is serious -- and nothing.& 34; -- Schulze slowly surveyed all Hiram& 39;s outward signs of majesty that had been denied his own majestic intellect, noted the tremendous figure, the shoulders, the forehead, the massive brow and nose and chin -- an ensemble of unabused power, the handiwork of Nature at her best, a creation worth while, worth preserving intact and immortal.& 34;Yes,& 34; he answered, with satiric bitterness;& 34;you will have to die, and rot, just like the rest of us.& 34; Schulze reflected, rubbing his red-button nose with his stubby fingers. When he spoke, his voice had a sad gentleness.& 34;You can bear hearing it. You have the right to know.& 34; He leaned back, paused, said in a low tone:& 34;Put your house in order, Mr. Ranger.& 34; Hiram& 39;s steadfast gray eyes met bravely the eyes of the man who had just read him his death warrant. A long pause; then Hiram said& 34;Thank you,& 34; in his quiet, calm way.